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Status unknownNCT02463513RIBOGENEUpdated May 13, 2016

RIBOGENE: Optimisation of Riboflavin Status in Hypertensive Adults With a Genetic Predisposition to Elevated Blood Pressure

An interventional study of Placebo comparator and 1.6mg riboflavin (Vitamin B2) in Participants With the MTHFR 677TT Genotype, sponsored by University of Ulster. Status unknown at 3 sites in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2016-05-13.

Sponsored by University of Ulster · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified May 2016), so the status shown — last known as Active, not recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
243
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Approximately 10% of the world's population have a particular genetic makeup (known as the TT genotype) that may increase their risk of having higher blood pressure. Previous work conducted by the investigators research group at the University of Ulster, in collaboration with clinical colleagues from across Northern Ireland, in premature CVD patients and hypertensive adults generally has demonstrated that a dietary level of riboflavin (1.6mg/d) decreases blood pressure, specifically in those with the TT genotype. To date, the blood pressure lowering effects of higher doses of riboflavin in individuals with the TT genotype is not known. The aim of this study is to investigate whether supplementation with riboflavin at a low dose supplemental level (10mg/d) can decrease blood pressure more effectively than the dietary level (1.6mg/d) by optimising riboflavin status and normalising MTHFR activity. This aim will be achieved by conducting a double-blind placebo-controlled intervention study over a 16 week period.

Participants will be recruited from cohorts screened for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism. Those identified with the TT genotype (homozygous for the polymorphism) that wish to participate in this research will be asked to attend a baseline and week-16 appointment and will be asked to take a daily riboflavin (1.6 or 10mg/d) or placebo capsule for the duration of the study. At each appointment a blood sample will be taken and blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference will be measured. If the results of this study show that intervention with a higher dose of riboflavin can lower blood pressure more effectively in individuals with the TT genotype this will have important implications for those responsible for the management of blood pressure. The findings will be of particular relevance in populations with a higher prevalence of the polymorphism.

Read the detailed description

Recruitment - Potential participants will be identified and recruited via GP practices, hospital outpatient clinics, pharmacies and workplaces throughout Northern Ireland. A letter of invitation and a study package containing a participant information sheet to explain the study, a consent form and a buccal swab DNA collection kit will be included.

Inclusion / Exclusion The main inclusion criteria are that individuals must have the TT genotype. Exclusion criteria includes a history of gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal or haematological disorders, B-vitamin supplements consumer (including multi-vitamins containing B-vitamins), anticonvulsant therapy or any other drugs known to interfere with folate/B-vitamin metabolism. Suitable individuals that participated in the screening process will be contacted and invited to participate in the intervention study. Participants will be given at least forty eight hours to consider the written information and decide if they wish to participate.

Study Design

Participants with the TT genotype who have given informed consent will be stratified by blood pressure and subsequently randomised to receive placebo, low dose (1.6mg/d) or low supplemental dose (10mg/d) riboflavin for the 16 week intervention period. It is important to be aware that no upper limit has been established for this water-soluble B-vitamin and there are no safety concerns regarding these doses of riboflavin or indeed higher doses (including 25mg/d) administered in previous studies (Madigan et al. 1998).

Participants, depending on geographical location, will be asked to attend two appointments (Baseline and week 16) at the participants local GP Practice, The Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (CTRIC) at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, The Welcome Trust-Wolfson Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility (NICRF) Belfast City Hospital, the Northern Ireland Centre for Food \& Health (NICHE) (University of Ulster, Coleraine) or at another convenient location. At both sampling points blood pressure (SBP/DBP mmHg) will be measured, a 30ml blood sample will be taken by a trained phlebotomist and the patient's height (m), weight (kg), waist circumference (cm) and BMI (kg/m2) will be measured. A detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire will collect information on medical and family history, medication and supplement use and dietary intake.

Statistical analysis Statisticalanalysis will be performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 17.0; SPSS UK Ltd, Chersey, United Kingdom). Data that is not normally distributed will be transformed to obtain normality before statistical analysis is performed. Data will then be analysed to investigate if any differences exist in the BP response between the two riboflavin treatment groups.

02

Conditions studied

  • Participants With the MTHFR 677TT Genotype

Keywords

  • Riboflavin
  • Blood pressure
  • MTHFR
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
03

In context

Hypertension

6,689 studies on the registry are indexed under Hypertension; 965 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 243 is above the median of 90 across 4,995 interventional studies indexed under Hypertension.

Browse Hypertension studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Ulster is the lead sponsor of 94 studies on the registry; 16 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Over 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of gastrointestinal; Hepatic; Renal or haematological disorders
  • Taking B-vitamin supplements (including multi-vitamins containing B-vitamins), anticonvulsant therapy or any other drugs known to interfere with folate/B-vitamin metabolism.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
243 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Treatment 1

    Dietary Supplement: Placebo comparator

  • Active comparator
    Treatment 2

    Dietary Supplement: 1.6mg riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

  • Active comparator
    Treatment 3

    Dietary Supplement: 10mg riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementPlacebo comparator

    2 week placebo washout + 16 weeks intervention (placebo)

  • Dietary supplement1.6mg riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

    2 week placebo washout + 16 weeks intervention (1.6mg riboflavin per day)

  • Dietary supplement10mg riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

    2 week placebo washout + 16 weeks intervention (10mg riboflavin per day)

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Blood Pressure

    The aim of this study is to investigate whether a low dose supplemental level (10mg/d) of riboflavin can decrease blood pressure more effectively than the dietary level (1.6mg/d) by optimising riboflavin status and normalising MTHFR activity.

    Time frame: 16 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Erythrocyte Glutathione Reductase Activation Coefficient (EGRAC)

    Indicator of Vitamin B2 status

    Time frame: 16 weeks

  2. Plasma Homocysteine

    Time frame: 16 weeks

  3. Red cell folate

    Time frame: 16 weeks

  4. Vitamin B12

    Time frame: 16 weeks

  5. Vitamin B6

    Time frame: 16 weeks

07

Study locations

3 sites
  • Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility (NICRF)
    Belfast, N.Ireland BT9 7AB, United Kingdom
  • Human Intervention Studies Unit, University of Ulster
    Coleraine, N.Ireland BT52 1SA, United Kingdom
  • Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC)
    Londonderry, N.Ireland BT47 6SB, United Kingdom
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 13, 2016, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02463513
Lead sponsor
University of Ulster
Collaborators
DSM Nutritional Products, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 4, 2015
Start date
Feb 2013
Primary completion
Dec 2017 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2017 (estimated)
Last update
May 13, 2016

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is status unknown, as verified in May 2016. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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